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tDCS in the Management of Post-COVID Disorders
Sponsor: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Summary
Different physical and mental morbidities such as pain, fatigue, depressed mood and cognitive impairment can be triggered by coronavirus infection. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), an easy-to-apply, non-pharmacological and safe technique, has been used to attenuate these symptoms caused by other diseases, and, therefore, it is expected that it can also attenuate them when generated by COVID-19. It is known that the persistent inflammatory state observed after COVID-19 would be related to the progression of these negative symptoms. As non-invasive brain stimulation can also attenuate acute and persistent inflammation, it can be estimated that tDCS can be a useful tool to recover immune function and reduce post-COVID-19 morbidity.
Official title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as a Strategy for the Management of Disorders Generated by COVID-19: a Multicentric Study.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
48
Start Date
2023-08-25
Completion Date
2024-09-28
Last Updated
2024-04-24
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
tDCS deliver low-intensity electrical currents (2 mA) through electrodes placed on the scalp. It is used to influence brain function, modulating the neuronal activity in specific areas, in a non-invasive way, as the stimulation may not be perceived sensorially due to the low intensity. In some cases, it can provide mild tingling and bring minimal discomfort. It has the ability to increase or decrease the cortical excitability of neurons, influencing the polarization of neuronal membranes, with the anodal pole (positive) facilitating depolarization that results in increased neuronal excitability in the area, and the cathodal pole (negative) promoting a hyperpolarization of the neuronal resting membrane potential that reduces cortical excitability, used to inhibit activity in a particular cortical area.
Motor Training
Motor training will be performed on the treadmill with the speed respecting the limits of the patient's maximum heart rate. To determine the maximum heart rate, the calculation must be performed: maximum heart rate = 208 - (0.7\*age). For participants who use beta-blockers, the following formula will be used: maximum heart rate = 164 - (0.7\*age). Just for the arms of fatigue and pain.
Cognitive Training
an n-Back task will be performed online at PsyToolkit (https://www.psytoolkit.org/). Just for the arms of cognitive impairment and depressed mood.
Locations (2)
Applied Neuroscience Laboratory-LANA
Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Science and Technology
Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil